Skip to content

tech

Review : MINIX NEO Storage – An Aluminum USB-C Hub with 250 GB SSD Storage Built In

K

If you are the owner of a modern Ultra-Portable Laptop such as the Google Pixelbook, you likely already carry a USB Type C hub to allow you to connect to classic USB devices. Most USB Type C hubs often pack features such as USB-PD Pass-through and HDMI output to allow you to use the hub as a docking station when you need to share your laptop to a full size display. I have a growing collection of USB Type C Hubs and when I got my hands on the MINIX NEO Storage Type C Hub, I could definitely say that it stands out from the others by packing a 250 GB M.2 SSD inside.

Upgrading the MINIX NEO Storage M.2 SSD from 250 GB to 1 TB

K

After spending some time with the MINIX NEO Type C Hub with a built in 250 GB SSD, I can say that I both love this device but I wish it had more storage. Sure 250 GB of storage is fine for most people but I would not categorize myself as “most people”. Officially, MINIX does not support upgrading the SSD in the MINIX NEO Storage Type C hub and to make matters worse, you cannot officially buy a version of the MINIX NEO Storage with capacities greater than 250 GB… With all that said, lets try to unofficially cram a 1 TB M.2 SSD into this thing. Here are the steps

ChromiumOS for the GPD Pocket R77-12257.0 Released

K

If you are a user of ChromiumOS for the GPD Pocket 1 or 2 ultra-portable computers; you should start seeing a new update rolling out. This update is version R77-12257.0 and contains a few minor stability improvements for both the GPD 1 and GPD 2 devices. This is the first of the promised weekly updates of ChromiumOS for the GPD Pocket. Here is a list of the changes;

BETA – ChromiumOS for the GPD Pocket 2

K

It has been less than 48 hours since I released a preview build of ChromiumOS for the GPD Pocket 1 handheld and the responses have been overwhelming with a massive amount of positive feedback. I had a large number of readers request a build to be made for the GPD Pocket 2. I am proud to announce a updated release that will work with the GPD Pocket 1 AND GPD Pocket 2, all in the same image!. I have been testing this image on my new GPD Pocket 2 for the past few hours and I am very happy with the performance. If you are a GPD Pocket 1 owner, stay tuned as there will be more updates over the next 2 weeks.

Public Preview – ChromiumOS for the GPD Pocket 1

K

I first announced that I have been working on a port of ChromiumOS for the GPD Pocket 1 ultra-portable computer back on March 9th. Unfortunately I have done a poor job with posting updates on the status of the build, that ends today with the first Public Tech Preview of ChromiumOS for the GPD Pocket 1.Technically this may be the worlds smallest Chromebook.

Microsoft’s History of Attacking Google – Only To Give Up And Conform

K

Microsoft used to have a internal mantra known as “Embrace, Extend, Extinguish” that helped to ensure that they always maintained market dominance. This was the driving force behind Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft’s Microsoft Java Virtual Machine, Microsoft Virtual PC and countless other products. This strategy essentially had Microsoft embracing promising new technologies and extending the features of the technology (often by adding exclusive features that work best on Windows) and then using their newfound market dominance to destroy the competing products. Aside from a few legal battles, this strategy often proved very successful for Microsoft however for some unknown reason, Microsoft decided to take a different approach with Google’s line of products – “Troll, Smear and Embrace”. I have compiled a list of my top 3 examples.

Update : T-Mobile 512 GB Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Experiencing Major Shipping Delays

K

I published a notice last week that T-Mobile is suffering from severe delays with the 512 GB Samsung Galaxy Note 9. These devices were expected to ship on August 24th but the shipment date has long gone. I reported that the delays could delay pre-order shipment dates to the last half of September. I checked my credit card account about an hour ago and saw that T-Mobile charged me for the pre-order which T-Mobile does not normally do until the phone ships. Sure enough, I checked T-Mobile’s website and sew that that the shipment date has been updated to “September 4th – September 6th”. I pre-ordered mine early so it is hard to tell if all pre-orders are shipping this week. If you also pre-ordered a 512 GB Note 9, you may want to check your credit card statement online to see if the charge is pending.

Review : ZMI 20,000 mAh USB Battery Pack/USB Hub with Power Delivery – My new favorite USB Battery Bank

K

I have a problem, I love USB battery packs and my collection keeps growing, it is getting so bad that I am running out of space in my backpack. Many of my USB battery packs have a similar set of features, the ZMI 20,000 mAh Battery Pack is very different as it not only puts out enough power to charge my PixelBook at full speed but it pulls double duty by acting as a USB 2.0 hub at the same time.

Google Assistant Brutally Slaughtered Siri at I/O 2018

K

If you have been a user of personal assistants for a while, you would have noticed that Apple’s Siri has been falling behind, outpacing Microsoft’s Cortana with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant taking the lead. It was not even a fair fight to begin with but if you were one of the folks who attended Google I/O 2018 in person or remotely you would have caught a demo of some of the features that Google has been working on bringing to Google Assistant. Lets explore a few of these features in more detail.

Six Changes I Would Make To Improve the Pixelbook

K

Since its launch in late 2017, the Google Pixelbook has been a smash hit with owners (including myself) regardless of the early criticisms of some tech reviewers. I have owned by Pixelbook for several months and it has quickly become my daily driver. It is simply great but if Google were to let me loose in their development lab for a day, these are the changes I would make to the Pixelbook.